A third of joint owners regret their property partner

The growing trend to buy together has led to 32% of joint property owners co-owners stuck in unsuitable house-share arrangements, according to research from OneFamily.

In the past five years, nearly 145,000 properties were bought with friends, siblings, or family members, over twice as many as the five years before, and this is set to double again in the next three years with more people planning to join forces with others to get on the property ladder3.

One in five (20%) people who bought with friends and family say they are forced to keep living with their co-owners because they don't have another option and cannot afford to move on, sell up or buy out their co-owners. As a result, more than one in 10 (13%) now regret buying a property with someone else.

For those buying with friends, the average length of a happy house-share is just over five years before lives change and people want to move on, however it’s not easy to extricate from a jointly purchased property meaning half of all co-owners (52%) of those who bought with friends or family want to move on but can’t.

High property prices and low interest rates on savings have pushed more people to join up with friends or family, with half (52%) saying they could not have afforded their home otherwise.

However, it seems many of these partnerships are not thought through, with two in five (42%) ending up in rows. Most household spats are down to money, but cleaning, and upkeep and maintenance have also caused friction between co-owners.

Nici Audhlam-Gardiner, managing director of lifetime ISAs at OneFamily, said: “Buying a home with friends and family members can be an attractive option for those wanting to get on the ladder - and the Lifetime ISA, which gives first-time buyers a savings boost of up to £1,000 a year, on savings of up to £4,000, can be used by multiple people, however buying with other people requires careful consideration.

“If you own a home with someone but then, for example, you want to move in with a new partner, or your job is relocated to the other side of the country, you would probably consider renting out your property, but many mortgages don’t allow sub-letting. Often there are two options: selling your share, or buying the portion you don’t own – and for many people this is impossible.

“We’d urge buyers to have an open, honest conversation to agree the terms in advance, should circumstances change and one of you wants to sell and move out.”

By Property Reporter

http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/property/a-third-of-joint-owners-regret-their-property-partner.html

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/31/a-third-of-joint-owners-regret-their-property-partner/

Simply brilliant!!!

After a detailed inspection report was sent to one of our landlords, we received the usual kind of response until we read the bottom part! So proud of everyone in the team! Well done!!

“Finally, as we are now approaching the end of our first year with you we would just like to say….

Your efficiency as a team is truly amazing and thoroughly appreciated. If only all companies could have your same values!”

#estateagent #lettingagent #britishpropertyawards #goldwinningagent #ashfordkent

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/29/simply-brilliant/

Cracking home to rent!

evolution_properties

· Early Bird Notice
· New Instruction For Let: 3 Bedroom Semi-Detached House – Essella Park - £995pcm

Situated in a very popular and quiet cul-de-sac is this superb 3 bedroom home. The property is in excellent order and ready for viewings!

Book your #PRIORITYVIEWING now before this goes live on all our other sites!
To book your viewing:
Send us a message on here
ashford@evolutionproperties.co.uk
01233 501601

#community #lettingagent #evolutionproperties #ashford #freevaluation #estateagent #house #instanthousevaluationashford #RealEstate

#Realtor #ForSale #NewHome #HouseHunting #HomeSale #HomesForSale #Property #Properties #Investment #Home #Housing #Listing #Mortgage #JustListed

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/29/cracking-home-to-rent/

CHRISTMAS!

Home-movers must act now to move by Christmas: Rightmove

Home-movers who want to move in by the traditional Christmas deadline, now only 18 weeks away, need to act now to do so, Rightmove has warned.

The average time from agreeing a sale to moving in is 13 weeks so prospective buyers should be active in the market right now and make sure they have necessary finances in place.

For new-to-the-market sellers, finding a buyer adds on an average of eight weeks so they will need to find a buyer quicker than the average if they want to move in before Christmas.

Rightmove notes that buyers have more choice this month compared to last, with total available stock being up 2.1%.

Additionally, the average asking prices of newly-marketed property saw a seasonal drop of 2.3% this month, as new sellers launch a ‘late summer sale’ to try and find a buyer more quickly.

Miles Shipside, Rightmove director and housing market analyst, commented: “Sellers who come to market in the peak holiday month often have a pressing need to sell and price down accordingly, and are offering ‘summer sale’ prices to entice holiday-distracted buyers. The market started its most recent cyclical price upturn in 2010, and since then the average price of property coming to market has gone up by 32%, stretching buyer affordability. More substantial discounts are therefore required to tempt warier buyers, with higher house prices also tightening the purse strings of lenders. With lacklustre average wage growth, more buyers are bumping up against the tighter lending criteria brought in four years ago following the Mortgage Market Review, which were intended to prevent another boom-and-bust cycle.

“The ‘beast from the east’ weather was a factor in sales agreed numbers being down by 5.4% year-to-date when we reported back in May, but they are on an upward trajectory and are now 3.5% down year-to-date. Overall in spite of political uncertainty sales agreed are holding pretty steady and it is usual for there to be an upturn in prices and buyer activity as we head into the Autumn season, especially if sellers maintain their cheaper pricing to attract buyers.

"The key measures affecting the chances of a successful sale all indicate a higher degree of difficulty, so for a seller to increase their odds and beat the average timescales they need to be more pro-active than other sellers. New sellers who are motivated by the 18-week Christmas deadline therefore need to agree a sale to a buyer much more quickly than the average eight weeks that it takes, and perhaps also compress the average 13 weeks between agreeing a sale to a buyer and moving in. That’s a nail-biting total of 21 weeks that they need to try and cut down. Sellers and their agents who are pricing very attractively in order to beat the averages should also ensure that both the seller and equally importantly their buyer have the necessary financial and legal preparation in place. Lack of up-front preparation leads to mortgage or cash availability hold-ups, and failure to get legally required documents ready in anticipation of a sale can add weeks. Sale-ready sellers and the correct choice of a well – prepared buyer with a short or sound chain can still bring the turkey to the table in your new home in time for Christmas.”

Original story link; CLICK HERE

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/27/christmas/

Homelets latest rental index

Rents in the UK rose by 1.3% in July compared to the same month a year ago; the average monthly rent now stands at £937 a month

Rents in London increased by 3.3% in July this year compared to July 2017; the average monthly rent in the capital now stands at £1,615 a month

When London is excluded, the average UK rental value was £777 in July 2018, this is 1.0% on last year

HomeLet’s July Rental Index reveals that rents rose in 8 of the 12 UK regions covered in the research

https://homelet.co.uk/assets/documents/HomeLet-Rental-Index-July-2018.pdf?utm_source=RedEye&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=HomeLet%20Rental%20Index&utm_content=HRI%20July%2018

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/13/homelets-latest-rental-index/

Evolution Properties have just won The British Property Award for Ashford.
Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging
period, which focused on customer service levels.
Evolution Properties have now been shortlisted for a number of national
awards which will be announced later in the year.
The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an
invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against
the service provided by their local, regional and national competition.
Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of
customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a
beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

THE BRITISH PROPERTY AWARDS are one of the most inclusive estate agency
awards providers as they do not charge to enter. This has enabled their award to be
structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over
90% of agents that meet their minimum criteria on a local level.
The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to
obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is
periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged.
Robert McLean from The British Property Awards said “Our awards has been
entry, such as cost, to ensure that we have the most inclusive awards. Our award
has also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an
agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic
customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of
time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a
benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”.

 

We offer all customers a free house valuation Kent service. We offer free, no-obligation quotes and guarantee that all valuations are accurate, the current market price, and which will get you the most profit for your property.

To learn more about our free house valuation in Kent service, then please do give us a call or drop us an email today! Alternatively, you can fill out our online property valuation form and one of our property managers will soon be in touch.

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/13/1597/

Supply issues continue to drive rents up

New data from RICS has shown that, during July, the squeeze on property supply in the lettings market continued with a 22% rise in respondents seeing a fall rather than rise in New Landlord Instructions.

According to the data, this is the eighth consecutive quarter in which this indicator has recorded a negative number.

This pattern reflects the shift in the Buy to Let market in the wake of tax changes which are still in the process of being implemented, as smaller scale landlords exit the sector. Significantly, the drop in instructions is evident in virtually all parts of the country to a greater or lesser extent.

While the supply of fresh rental stock to the market is increasingly constrained, the Tenant Demand indicator remains resilient. The upward momentum appears to have slowed, but the number of tenants looking for a new home remains in positive territory at a headline level (+4% in the latest three month period).

One consequence of this imbalance is that expectations for rental growth, and rising rents for consumers, appear to be strengthening again. Over the next twelve months, rents are projected to increase by a little short of +2% nationally, but the shortfall in supply over the medium term is expected to force a cumulative rise of around +15% (based on three month average of responses) by the middle of 2023. East Anglia and the South West are viewed as likely to see the sharpest growth over the period.

Little change in UK sales market

Turning to the sales market, the underlying message is little different from that reported in June. The headline Price balance edged up from +3% to +4% in July, meanwhile, the Newly Agreed Sales net balance remained close to zero for the fourth month in succession. As we have highlighted previously, the feedback to the RICS survey continues to suggest a stronger market in Scotland, Northern Ireland, much of the north of England, the Midlands and Wales (prices and activity). Meanwhile, the London Price balance was little changed over the month (-40%) with the results for both the South East and East Anglia consistent with very modest price declines.

It is perhaps no surprise that as speculation built ahead of the August Bank of England meeting that the headline New Buyer Enquiries series was little changed over the month with a net balance of +2%. The New Instructions measure also signalled a flat picture, following two months of very modest increases. The June survey signalled some doubts as to whether the pipeline of new supply would continue to improve in the light of the feedback on appraisals being conducted by valuers.

This was upheld as the appraisal balance in July was once again firmly negative. As a result, our judgement is that the average inventory on the books of estate agents is likely to remain close to historic lows. The impact of this is visible in both the twelve month sales and price expectations net balances. While the former recorded a reading of -7%, its most negative number since October last year, the latter was much firmer at +25%.

"The impact of recent and ongoing tax changes is clearly having a material impact on the Buy to Let sector as intended. The risk, as we have highlighted previously, is that a reduced pipeline of supply will gradually feed through into higher rents in the absence of either a significant uplift in the Build to Rent programme or government funded social housing.

At the present time, there is little evidence that either is likely to make up the shortfall. This augers ill for those many households for whom owner occupation is either out of reach financially or just not a suitable tenure."

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist "Our survey suggests that recent Government policy and legislation changes have impeded the growth of the Private Rented Sector (PRS), which is a vital part of a functioning homes market. Withdrawing tax breaks that small landlords relied on, placing an extra 3% on second home Stamp Duty, and failing to stimulate the corporate build to rent market, has understandably impacted supply.

While the current focus is rightly on using regulation to improve the experience for tenants, Government must urgently look again at the PRS as a whole, including ways to encourage good landlords. Ultimately, Government must consider the impact of its policies, and if the wish is to move away from PRS, it must provide a suitable alternative. If they wish to improve PRS, as we have suggested by professionalising through regulation and the PRS code, there is justification to reconsider the approach taken to tax."

 

Original Article; CLICK HERE

 

We offer all customers a free house valuation Kent service. We offer free, no-obligation quotes and guarantee that all valuations are accurate, the current market price, and which will get you the most profit for your property

To learn more about our free house valuation in Kent service, then please do give us a call or drop us an email today! Alternatively, you can fill out our online property valuation form and one of our property managers will soon be in touch.

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/13/supply-issues-continue-to-drive-rents-up/

Rise of the smart homes

Burdened by stress and a lack of time, Brits now more than ever crave convenience and speed in various aspects of their lives. One area where this is particularly true, is within their home environment. Individuals are therefore gradually adopting smart home technology which they can remotely control through their smartphones and tablets to facilitate a ‘connected home’.

The rise of smart home technology has been nothing short of fascinating. In fact, recent findings from ‘Smart Home Week’, found that 43% of Brits now own at least one smart product in their home. When it comes to their understanding of the technology, 49% of UK consumers are familiar with the features and benefits of smart home products according to research by ‘Ernst & Young (EY)’.

Interested in connected homes, housing agents Sellhousefast.uk analysed findings from Eureka!, who surveyed 946 UK households to better understand their current attitudes towards a range of factors concerning smart home technology.

Sellhousefast.uk found that the ‘lounge’ is the room which the majority (72%) of homeowner’s think is most ideal for smart technology. Thereafter, Brits believe the ‘kitchen’ (53%) and then, ‘bedrooms’ (34%) are the next best suited spaces for accommodating smart technology.

Contrastingly, the ‘landing’ (12%) is the part of the house which Brits feel is the least suited for smart devices/products.

Furthermore, Sellhousefast.uk also sought to find out the smart technology devices/products that UK homeowners would be interested in buying/installing within the next one to two years.

It was revealed that ‘video doorbells/security systems’ is the smart technology that most appeals to Brits, with 47% planning to purchase either one or both within the next two years. Just slightly below, 45% of Brits want to install ‘smart lights’ over the next two years, which they can wirelessly adjust the brightness/colour of as well as schedule - as and when needed.

On the other end of the scale, ‘dash buttons’ (9%) – which are small Wi-Fi functioning devices that enable consumers to order their favourite product from a certain retailer at the touch of a button – was the smart technology which garnered one of the lowest amounts of interest from Brits wanting to get it within the upcoming one to two years.

When considering the methods Brits would explore for getting advice on smart home technology, most Brits would opt to do so by directly contacting a smart tech manufacturer (41%) like ‘Nest’ or ‘Hive’. Subsequently, 39% of Brits would use an internet search engine such as google to get more information on smart home device(s) they are interested in.

Surprisingly, only 9% of Brits are likely to ask for recommendations on social media when seeking out suitable smart technology for their home.

Robby Du Toit, Managing Director of Sellhousefast.uk commented: “The growth of smart home technology over the last few years has been phenomenal. Despite Brits being initially sceptical towards the technology, improved understanding and more affordable pricing has given smart devices greater appeal. This research certainly shows that Brits are beginning to have a firm grasp of the smart technology they desire and would be willing to actively use in their home. Looking into the future, with the integration of smart home devices expected to become a real incentive for prospective buyers/renters, the technology could play a fundamental role in increasing the overall value of properties”.

 

Original post CLICK HERE

 

We offer all customers a free house valuation Kent service. We offer free, no-obligation quotes and guarantee that all valuations are accurate, the current market price, and which will get you the most profit for your property

To learn more about our free house valuation in Kent service, then please do give us a call or drop us an email today! Alternatively, you can fill out our online property valuation form and one of our property managers will soon be in touch.

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/13/rise-of-the-smart-homes/

Naughty agent!!

Amused at the “market leading agent” copying a floorplan we had on a similar house as they couldnt be bothered to produce their own. Even funnier that its got our logo as the watermark!!!! Thanks for the free advertising!!!! #freeadvertising #copycat #cantevendothejobtheyarepaidto #leavethemguessingwhichagent

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/12/naughty-agent/

British Property Awards

Exceptionally proud of the whole team!!

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/10/british-property-awards/

Brilliant, simply brilliant!!

Huge well done to the whole team! Number 1 for sales!!!

   

 

We offer all customers a free house valuation Kent service. We offer free, no-obligation quotes and guarantee that all valuations are accurate, the current market price, and which will get you the most profit for your property

To learn more about our free house valuation in Kent service, then please do give us a call or drop us an email today! Alternatively, you can fill out our online property valuation form and one of our property managers will soon be in touch.

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/09/brilliant-simply-brilliant/

Six features your house needs if you work from home

 

New research from online furniture retailer, Furniture Choice, reveals Brits spend a third of the working week, working from home, with 21% claiming they feel it makes them more productive.

If you’re partial to this new way of working and prefer the comfort and flexibility of your home, there’s much to consider when searching for a house. Not only do you have to think about comfort, style and location, you also have to consider practicality, space and of course, WiFi connection.

We’ve created a list of must haves for your next property if you run a business or regularly work from home.

1. The ideal home office

While it might seem like a given, creating the best home office for you is key when working remotely. It needs to be a space you can call your own and one which encourages productivity.

Whether the home already has a dedicated room you can use, or there’s space to convert or extend to create the ideal office, make sure there is actual practical working space available.

Key things to consider when looking to adapt a space into a home office, are its proximity to an internet point in case of WiFi issues, and where it is in the house. Try to keep it separate enough that you can avoid distractions.

2. Other adaptable work spaces

Let’s be honest, there’s going to be times you want to escape your home office - no matter how great it is.

The best way to ensure you don’t lose concentration and productivity when you go into another room, is to make other rooms adaptable working spaces too.

A light and airy kitchen is the perfect room for this. With some simple furniture and accessory choices such as a table for a desk, double glazing windows to prevent noise interruptions and storage for all your notes and equipment, the kitchen can quickly become an ideal place to get some work done.

3. Temperature control

If you’re trying to crunch some numbers or be creative then there’s nothing worse than being too cold or too warm. The best thing about working from home is that you don’t have to worry about other people’s preferences.

One study has found conditions between 21 and 25 degrees are best for productivity, so if you’re planning to convert a garage, be sure to look into the correct insulation to avoid freezing in winter. For optimum control, install air conditioning in your new home office for complete temperature comfort.

4. Natural light

Keep yourself alert and find a home that let’s in natural light. If you’re looking for a property that needs a little TLC to become your ideal home, check to see if large windows can be installed, and if doing so will compromise your privacy.

A good way of allowing extra light is installing skylights, making your new decor light and breezy.

5. Visible greenery

When viewing the room you think could be your home office, look around to see if you can see greenery outside. According to research, workers with plants showed 15% higher productivity than those without.

If greenery isn’t visible, try to envision potted plants and hanging baskets in the space. It’s important for your motivation to have these in your new office, so make sure you don’t compromise on space in this particular room.

6. Open spaces

We’ve already established the importance for a spacious home office, but having other open spaces in the home is just as valuable. Think about the other rooms you can work in, like the adaptable kitchen or living room - are they spacious enough for you to not feel cramped and enclosed?

An open plan living space and spacious back garden are important things if you’re going to be cooped up at home all day.

If you’re a home worker and looking to buy your next property, consider these key features in your search in order to ensure optimum productivity and focus.

Rebecca Snowden, Interior Style Advisor at Furniture Choice said: “Working from home can be incredibly rewarding, and according to our research, a productive choice - but only if the surroundings are right.

Creating an environment that strikes a balance between comfy and clutter-free can be difficult, using these tips in your house search will make the process as seamless as possible.”

 

We offer all customers a free house valuation Kent service. We offer free, no-obligation quotes and guarantee that all valuations are accurate, the current market price, and which will get you the most profit for your property

To learn more about our free house valuation in Kent service, then please do give us a call or drop us an email today! Alternatively, you can fill out our online property valuation form and one of our property managers will soon be in touch.

source https://blog.evolutionproperties.co.uk/2018/08/08/six-features-your-house-needs-if-you-work-from-home/